Pumping mechanism



May 6, 1947. w. G. GREEN ETAL PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1945 Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PTENT- PURPING MECHANISM William G. Green, Jenks, and Jay Callahan, Tulsa, Okla.; said Callahan assigner to Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Tulsa, Dkla., a crporation of Oklahoma ensue-anon January 22, 1945, serial No. ,573,862

(ci. 19a- 152) contents and high or variable viscosities. It is is well known to those versed in the art that the handling of such materials is accompanied by an undesirable amount. of wear to all moving parts coming in contact with liquids of this character.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means and method of maintaining automatically a more constant pump discharge pressure when pumping into varying head pressurfes. The speed of the pumping operation adjusts itself automatically to varying pressures, viscosities and ilow in a manner such that when the resistance to 4ilow of the pumped liquid is great, the pump pumps relatively slowly, and as the resistance to dow decreases, the rate of pumping increases substantially in proportion. This automatic variation in the rate of pumping is .achieved by a fsck-synchronous switching arrangement which is arranged in ,a manner such that the period of the pumping stroke is automatically determined 'by the resistance to flow of the pumped liquid.

Such a variation in the rate of pumping is desirable, since, for a given power (in this -ease the power of the air compressor), the maxmum possible rate 0f pumping is secured for al1 conditions of the liquid. The arrangement is somewhat analogous to the provision of a continuously variable gear between the prime mover and the Apump elements,

The self-synchronous switching arrangement, referred to above, makes the pump entirely selfcontained and containing its own timing mechamsm. It should be pointed out that vthe switching mechanism described, employing electrically operated solenoids could be replaced by valves directly operated `by the positions of the diaphragms. vIn the embodiment herein described, however, it is preferred to employ the solenoid valves for reasons of flexibility.

An important object of the present invent-ion -is to provide a pump which supplies constant power to the pumped liquid, i. e., the speed of the pump- V ing operation adjusts itself automatically to vary- Aing pressures, viscosities and flow in Va manner Such that when the resistance to flow of the .2 pumped liquid is great, 'the pumps pump'ylrelatively slowly, and as the resistance to flow de; creases the rate of pumping increases substan.- tially in proportion. This automatic variation in the rate fof pumping is achieved by a self-syrinchronous switching arrangement which is 'arL ranged a manner such that the period of the pumping stroke is automatically determined by the resist-ance to flow of the pumped liquid.

ySuch a variation in the rate of pumping -is de:-

sirabIe, since for a given power, (in this case the power of the air compressor), the maximum possible rate of pumping is secured for all coniditions of the liquid. The arrangement'i's somewhat analogous to the provision of a continuously variable gear between the prime mover and the pump elements.

The accompanying drawings represent inV a single vligure by way of example a form of conistruction and application 'of the pump according to the invention aswell as control devices `used for its actuation. Y Y

In the form of construction shown in the draw:- ing the pump comprises an air compressor 'Ill Vwhich is in communication with a vacuum reser.-

voir ll and a pressure reservoir S12 by means of connecting pipesl I3 and I4 respectively. The pump may bea multiple acting typel wherein the vacuum reservoir I l is put into communication .by means of a manifold IS with separate pipe conduits 29, 2| with two chambers 24 and 25 respectively. Thefpipe conduits 25, 2| are Controlled by means of valves 22, 23, said valves being of solenoidaltype wherein a plunger is being actuated by a :current passing through a solenoid cooperating with said plunger. The chambers 24 and 25 are also put in communication with the pressure reservoir l2 through pipes 26, 2l controlled -by valves 128, 29 respectively and through a pipe in 1a manner shown in the ligure, In these chambers are mounted in a fluid tight manner two Vflexible and impermeable diaphragms 40 and 41| respectively, which subdivide each chamber in two separate compartments. The lower .compartment 42 of the chamber 24 has its wallpierced with holes 43 and M. Through .the hole ,4.3 itis in communication with the vacuum reservoir Il by means of the pipe 28 under the control of the valve 22 and by means of the pipe I9. Through the -hole I4` it is in communication with the pressure reservoir l2 by means of the pipe 2,6 under control of the valve 2B, said pipe being continued by the pipe 3 G. The upper compartment 50 of the chamber 24 has its wall pierced vwith a hole El through whichY it is in communication with rod 80 in such yment 50 of the chamber 25.

. to the the main conduit 52, which is subdivided into two separate conduits 53 and 54 that are under the control of the valves 56 and 51 respectively.

The upper compartment 60 of the chamber 25 has its wall pierced with holes 6I and 62. Through the hole it is in communication with the vacuum reservoir II by means of the pipe 2| under the control of the valve 23 and by means of the pipe I9. Through the hole 52 it is in communication with the pressure reservoir I2 by means of the pipe 21 under the control of the valve 29, said pipe being The lower compartment of the chamber 25 has its wall pierced with a hole 10 through which it is in communication with the main conduit 1| which is subdivided into two separate conduits 12, 13 that are under the control of the valves'14, 15 respectively.

The conduits 52 and outlet through the pipe and 1| are connected to pipe 53. Y

In this oase a double-acting operation is obtained, since the two diaphragme 40, 4| connected together exert alternately ODPOsite actions in the chambers 24 and 25 of the respective bodies,

The diaphragm 40 is connected in its center portion to a rod 80 which is adapted to move up -and down with the motion of the diaphragm. The lower portion of the rod has two members 8 I, 82 and is in operative engagement with a switch mechanism 9U which consists of a lever rod 9| pivotally mounted upon a xed support 92 and provided at one of its extremities with a contact member 93. At convenient distances above and below the control member 93 Aare provided two fixed contact terminals 94 and 95 that are inserted into an electrical circuit energized by a battery 95 and including solenoidal coils for the actuation of the valves 22, 23, 28 and 29, The movable contact member 93 is actuated ,by the a manner that when the rod position an electrical connection 1| are connected to the 54 andthe conduits 52 the intake through the is in the down -is established between the movable contact member 93 and the fixed contact member 94.

The four solenoids actuating the valves 22, 23, 28 and 29 are connected to the electrical energizing circuit supplied by the battery 96 in a manner such that when the rod is in the up position, solenoids actuating the valves 22 and 29 become suddenly energized and their corresponding'valves become open. In this position vacuum from the reservoir .I is applied to the lower compartment 42 of the chamber 24 and pressure from the reservoir I2 is applied to the upper compart- Because of the action of the vacuum and of the pressure,.the diaphragms 40 and 4| are moved in a downward direction. It can be seenthat when the diaphragm 49 is moved to the down position by a certain amount the rod will operate the switch 90 so as to throw it into a position that correspends to deenergizing the solenoids actuating Y the valves 22 and 24 and energizing the solenoids actuating the valves 23 and 28; thus, when the rod 80 has completed its excursion in the downward direction, valves 22 and 29 close and valves 23 and 28 open. In this position corresponding end of the down stroke or rod 80, vacuum is applied to the lower compartment 42 of the chamber 24 and pressure'is applied to the upper oompartmentn of the chamber 25, and the diaphragms 4|)A and 4| are forced upward. It can be seen that upon completion of upward stroke the phragms vacuum is continued by the pipe 30. e

Y motion continues as 4 switch is again thrown and the cycle is repeated.

The action of the air compressor I0 in collaboration with the switch 40 and the rod 80 is such that the diaphragms 40 and 4I move in a reciprocating motion. Thus, the diaphragms move together, first in a then move together in an upward direction as indicated by the arrows. Because at all times when pressure is applied to one of the diaapplied to the other, the two phase and this reciprocating long as the air compressor is diaphragms move in in operation.

The reciprocating motion referred to above causes alternate vacuum and pressure to appear in the pipes 52 and 1| in a manner such that when vacuum appears in 52 pressure appears in 1| and vice versa. The action of the clapper valves 56, 51, 19 and 15 is such that when the pipe 58 contains vacuum, valve 51 is closed and valve 56 is open and thus vacuum is communicated to the intake. When the pipe 12 contains pressure, valve 14 is closed and 15 is open, and thus the pressure is transmitted into the outlet. When the pipe 12 contains vacuum valve 15 is closed and 14 is open, and the vacuum is communicated to the intake.

It is seen, therefore, that the valves 56, 51, 14 and 15 act automatically so as to translate the alternate pressures and vacua in pipes 52 and 12 into a steady vacuum in the intake and a steady pressure in the outlet. This action is somewhat similar to the action of an electricfull wave rectier in which alternating current is translated into direct current. This action tends to produce a flow of mud between the intake and the outlet.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and useful and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mechanism for pumping a iiuid, two reservoirs comprising a driving fluid, means operatively connecting said two reservoirs for main.. taining a dilerence of the pressure of said fluid therebetween, two chambers, each of said chambers having a flexible diaphragm separating it into two compartments containing the delivery fluid and the driving fluid, respectively, a system of conduits connecting the compartment of each of the said chambers that contain the driving fluid with said two'reservoirs, a plurality oi' valves operatively engaged with said system of conduits to control the motion of said fluid between said reservoirs and said chambers thereby causing corresponding displacements of said diaphragms,

means for selective actuation of said valves in order to cause an alternate motion of said diaphragms, and a circulating system connected to the compartments of each of said two chambers that contain the delivery fluid, said circulating system being lled with said delivery fluid and comprising an input pipe and an output pipe, anda system of valves operatively engaged with said circulating system for providing a. uniform motion of said delivery fluid in response to the alternate motion of said diaphragms,

2. In a mechanism for pumping fluids, two reservoirs comprising a driving uid, means operatively connecting said two reservoirs for maintaining a difference of pressure oi said fluid therebetween, a chamber provided with a movable member separating it into two compartments condelivery fluid and the driving fluid,

respectively, a system of conduits connecting the downward direction, then stop,

compartment of said chamber that contains the driving iiuid with said two reservoirs, a plurality of valves operatively engaged with said system of conduits to control the motion of said fluid between said .reservoirs and said chamber thereby causing corresponding displacements of said movable member, means responsive to the displacements of said movable member for selective actuation of said valves in order to cause an alternate motion of said member, and a circulating system connected to the compartment that contains the delivery fluid, said circulating system being lled with said delivery iluid and comprising an input pipe and an output pipe, and a system of valves operatively engaged with said circulating system for providing a uniform motion of said delivery fluid in response to the alternate motion of said movable member.

3. In a mechanism for pumping a delivery fluid, two reservoirs comprising a driving fluid, means operatively connected to said two reservoirs for maintaining a difference of pressure of said fluid therebetween, a chamber provided with a flexible diaphragm separating it into two compartments containing the delivery iiud and the driving uid, respectively, a system of conduits connecting the compartment oi said chamber that contains the driving uid with said two reservoirs, valves operatively engaged with said system of conduits to control the motion of said fluid between said reservoirs and said chamber thereby causing corresponding displacements of said diaphragm, means responsive to the displacements of said diaphragms for selective actuation of said valves in order to cause an alternate motion of said diaphragm, and a circulating system connected to the compartment that contains the delivery fluid, said circulating system being filled with said delivery fluid and comprising an input pipe and an output pipe, and a system of valves operatively engaged with said circulating system for providing a uniform motion oi said delivery fluid in response to the alternate motion of said diaphragms.

4. In a mechanism for pumping a delivery uid, two reservoirs comprising a driving huid, means operatively connected to said two reservoirs for maintaining a difference of pressure of said fluid therebetween, two chambers, each of said chambers having a movable member separating it into two compartments containing the delivery fluid and the driving uid, respectively, a system of conduits connecting the compartment of each of the said chambers that contain the driving iiuid with said two reservoirs, a plurality of valves operatively engaged with said system of conduits to control the motion of said fluid between said reservoirs and said chambers thereby causing corresponding displacements of said movable member, means responsive to the displacements of at least one of the said members for selective actuation of said valves in order to cause an alternate motion of said member and a circulating system connected to the compartments of each of said two reservoirs that contain the delivery uid, said circulating system being lled with said delivery uid and comprising an input pipe and an output pipe, and a system of valves operatively engaged with said circulating system for providing a uniform motion of said delivery fluid in response to the alternate motion of said movable members.

5. In a mechanism for pumping a delivery fluid, two reservoirs comprising a driving fluid, means operatively connected to said two reservoirs for maintaining a diierence of pressure of said uid therebetween, two chambers, each of said chambers having a flexible diaphragm separating it into two compartments containing the delivery uid and the driving fluid, respectively, a system of conduits connecting the compartment of each of the said chambers that contain the driving fluid with said two reservoirs, a plurality of valves operatively engaged with said system of conduits to control the motion of said uid between said reservoirs and said chambers thereby causing corresponding displacements of said diaphragms, means responsive to the displacements of at least one of the said diaphragms for selective actuation of said valves in order to cause an alternate motion of said diaphragms, and a circulating system connected to the compartments of each of said two reservoirs that contain the delivery uid, said circulating system being lled with said delivery fluid and comprising an input pipe and an output pipe, and a system of valves operatively engaged with said circulating system for providing a uniform motion of said delivery fluid in response to the alternate motion of said diaphragms.

WILLIAM G. GREEN. JAY CALLAHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 636,013 Tulle Oct. 31, 1899 1,628,943 Wolcott May 17, 1927 2,260,306 Ferguson Oct. 28, 1941 

